VP of Engineering Salary: Dublin vs London

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VP of Engineering Salary: Dublin vs LondonNet Take-Home Comparison 2026

A Senior VP of Engineering in SaaS earns around $270K gross total compensation in Dublin and $275K in London based on Torchinsky Executive Consulting benchmarks. After tax, the difference is $12,331 per year in favor of London — or $61,655 over a typical 5-year tenure.

🇮🇪Dublin / Ireland

Gross

$270K

Net after tax

$148K

~45.2% effective tax

🇬🇧London / UK

Gross

$275K

Net after tax

$160K

~41.7% effective tax

London vs Dublin — net annual difference

+$12,331 / year

Over 5-year tenure

+$61,655

VP Engineering compensation by seniority level

Seniority	Total Comp	Dublin Net	London Net	Δ
Mid-Level VP Engineering	$202K	$115K	$123K	+$9K
Senior VP Engineering	$270K	$148K	$160K	+$12K
Lead / SVP VP Engineering	$363K	$193K	$212K	+$19K

Try it with your own numbers: Open the full Comp Check Calculator

Adjust role, seniority, industry, and region. Instant tax + net take-home across 53 jurisdictions.

Why the gap exists

Dublin's executive market grew meaningfully after Brexit, as financial services firms (Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley) established or expanded EU operations there to preserve passporting rights. The city now hosts a dense cluster of tech European headquarters (Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Stripe, Airbnb) and a maturing fintech and payments ecosystem. Ireland's tax structure is surprisingly similar to the UK's at senior executive comp levels: 40% income tax above €44K, plus USC (Universal Social Charge) of 8% above €70K, plus PRSI of 4.1% — giving an effective rate around 46% at $300K, slightly higher than London.

For a Senior VP of Engineering specifically, the gross compensation in Dublin is approximately $270K vs $275K in London. After applying effective tax rates of 45.2% (Dublin) and 41.7% (London), the net take-home lands at $148K and $160K respectively — a gap of $12,331 per year favoring London.

What to factor in beyond raw tax numbers: Despite the similar headline rates, Dublin offers several structural advantages: EU market access post-Brexit, a lower cost of living than central London, a smaller but fast-growing executive network, and stronger tax treatment for stock options under KEEP and other Irish regimes. Compensation in Dublin for equivalent roles typically trails London by 15–25% in gross terms, which can erode the quality-of-life advantages. Housing in Dublin has become severely constrained since 2020, with rental and purchase costs near parity with London for city-center locations. For executives with EU citizenship or Irish heritage, Dublin is often the easier relocation logistically.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Senior VP of Engineering earn in Dublin?

A Senior VP of Engineering in SaaS earns around $270K in total compensation (base + bonus) in Dublin based on Torchinsky Executive Consulting data. After Ireland income tax and social contributions, this works out to approximately $148K net take-home per year.

Is London better than Dublin for a VP of Engineering salary?

On net take-home, yes: a Senior VP of Engineering on an equivalent package nets $12,331 more per year in London. The gap is driven primarily by the tax differential. However, raw net isn't the only factor — cost of living, career optionality, and quality-of-life preferences should also weigh into the decision.

What's the effective tax rate for a VP of Engineering earning $270K in Dublin?

At $270K gross, a Senior VP of Engineering in Dublin pays approximately 45.2% in combined income tax and employee social contributions. This figure excludes personal deductions, reliefs, and expatriate tax schemes (such as UK non-dom status, Netherlands 30% ruling, or Portugal NHR).

What's the effective tax rate for a VP of Engineering earning $275K in London?

At $275K gross, a Senior VP of Engineering in London pays approximately 41.7% in combined income tax and employee social contributions. This figure excludes personal deductions, reliefs, and expatriate tax schemes.

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